Outreach: Embracing the Call to Care

St. Paul is an active member of the Bloomington social services community, and we embrace the call to care for the most vulnerable members of God’s family. A number of opportunities are described below. Thank you for your interest in helping us fulfill our mission.

Christmas Sharing

Share the joy of Christmas with others by giving gifts to families in need in the Bloomington community during the Christmas season. Thirty-five sponsor families are needed to work with one or two families who have requested assistance. Time commitment is approximately two to three hours during Advent.

Pro-Life Committee

Coordinator: Chris PayneE-Mail: musicaldaddy@yahoo.com​The Pro-Life Committee educates people on the sanctity of life at all stages, and helps serve women facing crisis pregnancies and their families. Members promote and serve in the Gabriel Project, volunteer at the Crisis Pregnancy Center and provide educational outreach to the community, among other activities.

Interfaith Winter Shelter

The shelter provides a warm, safe place to sleep in a low-barrier setting for individuals experiencing homelessness during the winter from Nov. 1 to March 31, seven days a week, from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. St. Paul is responsible for Tuesday nights, when about 30 volunteers are needed. There are a number of different volunteer shifts during the evening, overnight and into the morning. Contact Jane Walter for more information.

Peace and Justice

Beginning with prayer and reflection, we aim to be a parish activist group inspired and guided by the principles of Catholic social teaching: Life and dignity of the human person; call to family, community, and participation; rights of workers; solidarity; and care for God’s creation. We raise awareness and encourage action, work with groups both local and beyond, and hold membership in Pax Christi USA, our national Catholic peace organization. There are monthly meetings.

St. Paul’s Shawls

Coordinator: Mary Alice HooverE-Mail: kandma@comcast.net​We provide comfort, support and prayers for newly baptized babies, cancer patients, and others in need of healing in our parish and in the Bloomington community by knitting, crocheting and sewing blankets, shawls, and wraps to convey, in a very tangible way, our concern and prayers for those who need either spiritual or physical healing. The group meets monthly.

Mini VinniesThe Young Vincentians

Coordinator: Bridget McIntyreE-Mail: bmcintyre@hoosiercatholic.orgPhone: 812-339-5561, Ext. 222​Teens looking to get involved in service with the greater community can join this younger St. Vincent de Paul Society subgroup, the Mini Vinnies. This teen-centered group creates and carries out service opportunities for those in need. Mini Vinnies meet one Sunday a month and carry out service projects as planned.

St. Vincent de Paul Society

Coordinators: Ron Kofmehl and Jo GilbertsonPhone: 812-361-5451 (Ron) 812-219-5566 (Jo)E-Mail: ronkofmehl@comcast.net​Seeking a way to help others? The St. Vincent de Paul Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving, with dignity and compassion, those who are in need. Volunteers staff telephone hotlines, make home visits, provide referrals to other social service agencies, and offer financial assistance in some instances. Warehouse volunteers collect donated furniture and appliances and distribute those items to clients in need.

KIVA

Coordinator: Hank CooperE-Mail: cooper1411@yahoo.com​Our goal is to help alleviate global poverty. St. Paul Catholic Center partners with Kiva, a not-for-profit agency, to provide microloans to individuals around the world, without regard for race, nationality, religion, or gender. Three-member teams browse the Kiva website to select a loan recipient, determine the amount of the loan and monitor repayment. Semiannual meetings run about an hour.

Catholic Charities Bloomington

Rooted in faith and committed to providing help, creating hope and serving all, Catholic Charities Bloomington offers mental health services to children, adults and families. The all-volunteer CCB Advisory Council participates in community relations efforts, outreach, advocacy, and fund-raising . Join us. You can make a difference in the lives of the people we serve.